Portlandia is ending. The good news: Lot18 just released Portlandia-themed wines in time for fans to toast its final season, which premiered last week.
Appropriately, most of the Portlandia wines are Oregonian, with one oddball bottle from Languedoc-Roussillon, France. The wines commemorate some of the show’s more popular recurring characters and themes.
Since Portlandia producers Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein place so much importance on food, we’ve gone ahead and paired each Lot18 wine with a signature Portlandia recipe.
2014 Weirdo Rogue Valley Syrah ($25)
This dark, intense Syrah from Southern Oregon represents the eccentric attitudes of Portlandia’s goth couple, the Weirdos. With its juicy, smoky-sweet notes of blackberry, black plum, and balsamic, this Syrah would make the perfect companion to a thick, oozing Slamburger piled tall with jalapeño and cheddar, on a sesame bun.
2016 Women and Women First Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($30)
Of course, feminism runs strong in the Portlandia sketches. Fittingly, a complex, brooding Pinot Noir is selected to represent the Women and Women First Bookstore. With fragrant aromatics of raspberry, black tea, and rose petal, this Pinot would pair beautifully with Pacific Northwest salmon smoked on a cedar plank, accompanied by roasted wild mushrooms.
2015 Brunch Village Willamette Valley Pinot Gris ($20)
In a poke at Portland’s at times excessive brunch culture, a bright Pinot Gris brimming with peach, pineapple, and nectarine flavors is a must-have to pair with lighter daytime fare. The bright flavors and acidity of this Pinot Gris would make a perfect partner to the tartness of the marionberries in the pancakes that are a Portlandia obsession.
2016 This is an Art Project Languedoc-la-Clape Rosé ($18)
This is the oddball of the bunch — a non-Oregonian wine chosen to represent a show that is all things Oregonian. We suppose one could draw a loose tie-in that all wine is a constant work of art, and the refreshing strawberry, white peach, and grapefruit flavors of this rosé are no exception. But really, don’t overthink — just drink this if you like rosé. whose crisp minerality would make it a great companion to the plethora of pickled foods in Portlandia, from Persian cucumbers to baby beets.
To learn more or snag a bottle before the premiere, visit lot18.com/portlandia.